be able to breathe

Well, I could probably fudge and take it that next week, but after that, no Clarinex, Veramyst, Singulair, Benadryl…nuffin.

I can have the shots, and they’ll keep increasing them until I get preggers. And he gave me some brochures on how to minimize my contact with allergens.

I keep thinking, though…I still wake up with my eyes gummed shut. My nose runs 24 hours a day. I sneeze frequently. All this on medication. What am I going to be like off of it?

_{Sick, that’s what. Oh, well…totally worth it in the long run. And it’s only for a couple years, max.}

Or at least keeping fragrance to a minimum.

Certain people’s perfumes always set me off – I’ve known this for a while. Not sure if it’s the perfume or the amount worn, but there are some people I can barely stand to be in the same room with. (I’m guessing a combination of both; it doesn’t bother me when I wear perfume, but I don’t wear very strong perfume and I only wear a tiny bit.)

Today, however, I noticed that the smell of my hand lotion (which is just garden-variety lotion, not super-girly perfumed lotion) chokes me up when I talk on the phone. So it does look like I’m getting more sensitive to perfumes. Time to switch to unscented wherever possible.

I’m having an allergic reaction to my allergy shot. I’ve taken two Benadryl, a puff off my inhaler (which might not even be good anymore…I didn’t think to check), and smeared the site with hydrocortisone cream. I still itch (I’ve basically developed a hive over the injection site), my nose is running like crazy, and I’ve got this annoying hacking cough. If the reaction doesn’t let up soon, I’m going to have to go back to the doctor…or to the emergency room. And I’ve got a stack of work to do tonight.

Stupid allergies.

_{Why yes, I would love some cheese with my whine.}

Still no mold smell. I did wake up coughing, but that might be in part ‘cause I’ve not cleaned in a couple weeks. ::sheepish grin:: So let me knock that out and re-evaluate.

I do appear to have some lingering reminders: looks like the mushroom chunks that were on the carpet have now permanently attached themselves in the manner of Play-Doh. I was thinking of tackling them with some stain remover and a scrub brush unless anyone has any better ideas. _{Yes, that was a cry for help.}

Someday…maybe even soon…I can resume my former computer usage. I miss you guys!

Sunday, after hearing nothing for over a week, I sent yet another request to the apartment office. (Nothing mean…more like “Haven’t seen you guys…when are you coming to look at my closet?”) Monday, while I was at work, a guy came out. He told Richie the other guy “didn’t get it all” and that he’d be back to fix it. Today, I come home to find the last mold spot painted over. No mention of the meter they were supposed to bring out. I’ll give it a day or so to see if my allergies agree the mold is gone; kinda hard to tell with the paint fumes. If it’s not, I’m going in to the office again.

_{It grates my nerves to be this way…I hatehatehate “squeaky wheel” people. But I’m drowning in my own mucus here.}

My mother, who works as a regional manager for a housing company, is absolutely horrified. She says that at the very least they should have cut out the affected drywall and replaced my carpet. Everything I’ve read supports this, but what can I do?

Move, that’s what. My lease is up in July. If this mold problem’s not fixed by then, I’ll have to move. I hate to do it…I love my apartment. But there are too many brand-new apartment complexes going up around here for me to stay in a 15-year-old apartment with mold problems. Cheaper ones, at that.

Sweaters made from pet fur. Oh, my.

http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/01/14/sustainable-cat-hair-sweaters/

Now I know why I’ve felt like I’ve had a cold off and on all fall. The water leak from last year is still there.

There are mushrooms growing in my carpet.

Mushrooms. In. My. Carpet.

I’ve put in my plea to please, please, please come fix this as soon as possible. Here’s hoping…

The allergy pills help my colds. I came down with a nasty cold Thanksgiving day, and spent the whole weekend sick. (Went through 4 jumbo boxes of tissues in three days…I mean nasty.) Usually, getting a cold for me means a month of being sick…it spends two weeks in my sinuses, and two in my chest. But I’m feeling pretty good now. I was a bit tired Monday, and my nose has been a little on the drippy side, but other than that, I’m doing great. No cough, no congestion, nothing.

I’ve never recovered from a cold this fast. Ever.

All I can assume is that it’s the allergy meds. Which makes them well worth the money to me.

is apparently going to be part of the allergy routine for a while. I’d been skipping it here and there (I detest nasal sprays, and would thus “forget” to use it), and when I ran out, just didn’t buy any more. (My allergy meds plus the birth control pills cost $150 a month…I’m cutting corners anywhere I can.) And my sinuses promptly clogged. Refilled the prescription, and they’re fine. I guess I need this stuff. Bleh.

While cleaning today, I discovered something that is most likely the source of a) the drawer funk my clothes get if I don’t wear them that often and b) the reason I wake up with a runny nose and my eyes gummed shut every morning: About 20 years’ worth of dust in my dresser. Pulled the drawers out to wash them (in hopes of eliminating said funk), and found an army of dust bunnies inside the dresser itself. It never occurred to me to clean in there; the drawers, yes, but not the inside of the dresser.

So I attacked it (and my nightstand and desk) with the bigger part of a bottle of Murphy’s Oil Soap. I was wearing a dust mask on the advice of a friend, so hopefully I won’t be too congested tomorrow.